Instead of having a #1 Contender’s Match, Cody Rhodes will face CM Punk for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam. Punk won the title from Sami Zayn in his first match back since WrestleMania 42.
The two friends teamed together at Saturday Night’s Main Event, defeating Zayn and Gunther. Had The Ring General and Zayn won the match, they would have been added to the title clash at SummerSlam.
Thanks for the submission!
Since SmackDown GM Nick Aldis interfered to cost Gunther a chance to move on, the showdown remains one-on-one. Things got heated between Punk and Rhodes at the SummerSlam Kickoff Show.
With less than two weeks to go until the massive two-night extravaganza, a lot can still happen before and at the show. The next five WWE stars could interfere when CM Punk defends the Undisputed Championship against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.
#5. Randy Orton targets Cody Rhodes
Randy Orton was one of a few big stars who disappeared after WrestleMania 42. He was unable to capture a 15th World Championship in his match against Cody Rhodes.
While he hit Pat McAfee with an RKO, he did the same to The American Nightmare after the loss. Triple H has opted for overbooked WWE Title matches with Rhodes, John Cena, and Roman Reigns.
The Viper could finally return for vengeance at SummerSlam by interfering in the match. Costing Rhodes could reignite their feud since it needs more than one match. It also doesn’t necessarily require the WWE Championship.
#4. Jey Uso makes WWE Title business Bloodline business
Despite having a bad run as World Heavyweight Champion, Jey Uso is still pushed as a top-level face. He has received more opportunities than other big names like LA Knight and Finn Balor.
Roman Reigns preferred that Jey try to win the Undisputed WWE Title instead of facing him for the World Heavyweight Title via a potential King of the Ring victory. He failed, but tried to play it off like he was wronged during the deciding pinfall.
The Yeet Master even went to SmackDown after Sami Zayn won the title, thinking he was deserving of another shot. Since he was in the ring at the right time, he was handed an opportunity other WWE stars could have used.
Jey could disrupt the title match at SummerSlam at the direction of The Tribal Chief. The Bloodline members dominate programming and could be all over SummerSlam.
#3. Sami Zayn is out for justice at SummerSlam
Several people other than Jey Uso actually have grounds to be upset that Rhodes is the one challenging Punk at SummerSlam. Sami Zayn wasn’t given a rematch, unlike Rhodes, who’s either been handed a chance or won one after losing the title.
When he was given a route to being added to the SummerSlam match, it was Nick Aldis who interfered at Saturday Night’s Main Event to cost Gunther the chance. Since he teamed with The Ring General, Sami was also robbed of the shot.
It now appears that there won’t be a spot for Zayn on the two-night card. Since he’s been repeatedly mistreated and overlooked, it wouldn’t be a shock if he interjected himself into the title match.
#2. Drew McIntyre hates CM Punk and Cody Rhodes
Drew McIntyre is one of many stars left by the wayside during Cody Rhodes’ run atop SmackDown. Aldis kept giving Rhodes chances to earn a title shot, but didn’t do the same for The Scottish Warrior.
While he did capture the WWE Championship during a cage match against Rhodes, it was thanks to Jacob Fatu. McIntyre didn’t definitively defeat Cody for the title, as he merely escaped the cage to win.
McIntyre was then fed to Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania in a street fight. He’s been off programming since that time, filming the reboot of the Highlander film franchise.
The American Nightmare doesn’t listen to why his enemies are upset, instead choosing to call them jealous or delusional.
His lack of awareness and inability to understand why some stars are angry could bite him at SummerSlam. If Orton doesn’t return to strike, it could be The Scottish Warrior who looks for vengeance.
#1. Gunther isn’t done with title pursuits
Gunther isn’t 100% innocent with his recent actions, as blindside attacks led to Rhodes wanting to face him for the title. What’s happened during those title contests, however, is only partially his fault.
Assaulting Sami Zayn for not letting him cheat was his own fault. But Aldis costing him, even if he was standing up for himself as a man, as Michael Cole claimed, is a horrible move. Aldis is a WWE official and has to act better than that.
He needs to hold himself to a higher standard. Since he cost Gunther a chance to be added to the SummerSlam match, it wouldn’t be a shock if he crashed the WWE Title match in protest. Gunther and Aldis will face each other at the event, but the title is still likely on The Ring General’s mind.
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Edited by Matthew Serocki